Button-fastening



(No Model.)

E. A. GILBS. BUTTON PASTENING.

Patented Oct. 25, 1892.

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' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN GILES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BUTTON-FASTENING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of' Letters Patent No. 484,853, dated October 25, 1892.

Application led March Z1, 1892. Serial No. 425,736. (No model.)

To alt whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN A. GILES, of Ohicago, in the county of Oook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Button-Fastenings, of which.

the latter may by means thereof be readily.

attached to or detached from the garment to which it is applied.

To these ends my invention consists in the combination of elements hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a central sectional view of a button, showing a fastening device attached thereto embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the blank as it appears when formed, but before being bent into the desired shape to form the fastening device or shank. Fig. 3 is a like view of a blank, 'showing a modified construction. Fig. 4 is a central sectional view of a button, showing the shank unlocked and in position to be inserted in the cloth; and Fig. 5 is a face view in detail of the back-plate.

Referring to the drawings, a represents the cover or main body of the button, while l) is the metallic plate upon the back, to which it is attached. The plate b is provided with openings b b for the reception of the shank or fastening device c, as hereinafter stated. The blank c is made from a wire, preferably of spring-brass, provided with a barb ,7, as shown, which is adapted to engage with the plate b. With the exception of the notch, which is cut away beneath the barb, the wire is left of its normal size, as shown at 'L'. It is then by preference iiattened, as shown at g, which wide and flat portion is of sufficient length to form the U-shaped bend of the shank. A shoulder f is then formed upon the shank, either by compressing the wire upon both sides, as shown in Fig. 2,'or 1n the manner hereinafter stated. The main body of the shank, including the neck e, is then bent, as

shown in Fig. 1, when said neck e is inserted in one of the openings b of the plate b, in which position it is finally loosely secured by compressing andwidening the part d, forming the end of the shank, to such an extent that it cannot be drawn through the opening in the plate when the shank is unclasped. .The dotted lines upon the part d, Figs. 2 and 3, indicate the further flattening of that part after it is inserted within.

While the part d serves to engage the plate b, it is obvious that so long as the opposite end of the shank is free said shank may turn upon the bent portion e, and may be thus presented in a position to be hooked into the cloth, as shown in Fig. 4. In Fig. 3 I have shown a modified form of shank. The middle portion g of the wire is left in its normal state, while the parts h and j' are flattened, as shown, to form shoulders,which prevent the shank from being pushed up through the plate b.

I prefer to make the main body ofthe shank i'lat, as shown in Figs. l and 2, as a larger surface is thereby afforded for contact with the cloth, which would prevent rapid wear.

The spring or auxiliary of the shank eX- erted in a plane parallel with the length of the shank enables the barb j to engage with the plate b and thus hold the shank in place, while it may be readily disengaged therefrom by pressing it in an opposite direction by means of any suitable device.

improved fastener possesses the advantages, among others, that it may be readily attached to or separated from the garment to which it is applied, While it is strong, simple, and durable. The advantage resulting from the employment of a single loop or shank is obvious, while the blank may be formed at a single operation ready for insertion, and no additional appliances are required in connection with the plate b to secure the shank in place. I-Ience it is capable of being manufactured at a minimum cost.

My improved fastening device is especially applicable to military goods, cloaks, wraps, and to all uniforms or garments upon which metal buttons are employed. Itis also manifest that said device may be applied to any button having a metallic back-such, for eX- ample, as the usual cloth-covered button.

IOO

While the openings b b in the plateb may be made of any desired shape, I prefer to construct them as shown in Fig. 5, in which the one has a straight bearing-surface to receive the barb, while the other is oblong to conform to the shape of the Iiattened neck e. The shank when nnclasped is thus prevented from turning around in the socket or opening.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a button, the combination, Wit-h the bottom plate or back thereof, of a.l fasteningshank consisting of a piece of spring metal bent to a substantially-U shape, so that both ends may pass into the bottom plate, one end being permanently engaged to the said plate, while the opposite end is provided with a barb, said shank so constructed that its resiliency will be exerted in a plane parallel with the length of the same, thereby causing the barb to engage the bottom plate and complete the fastening, substantially as described.

2. In a button, the combination, with the bottom plate or back thereof, of a4 fasteningshank consisting of a piece of spring metal bent to a substantially-U shape, so that bothv gage the bottom plate, substantially as dej, shoulder f, bent neck e, and enlargement d,

reach other and in a plane parallel with the length of the same, causing the barb to en- 3S scribed.

3. The combination, with the metallic back b of a button provided with the openings b b', of the pointed spring-shank c, having barb 4o substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the metallic back b of a button provided with the openings b b', of the. pointed shank c, having barb j, flattened and widened portionsc, shoulder f, bent 45 neck e, and enlargement d, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specilication, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 18th day of March,` 1892.

EDWIN A. GILES. Witnesses:

D. H. FLETCHER, T. S. E. DIXON. 

